Hands and Feet of Asheville, in Partnership with GCPC

HFA Volunteer Corrine Roberts

Hands and Feet of Asheville (HFA) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of engaging young adults in transformational mission to inspire a lifetime of caring. HFA, a progressive ecumenical Christian organization, is committed to partnering with local nonprofits that are implementing solutions to poverty, homelessness, hunger, and oppression.  We recruit young adults who are seeking meaningful work in service to others.  We do this, trusting that this is what it means to be God's hands and feet in the world.  Volunteers create an intentional community in their home; go on retreats (soon to go to Jubilee Partners in Comer, GA), and do spiritual direction and vocational discernment. 

GCPC's session helped to launch HFA almost 3 years ago, responding to the proposal by founder and executive director, Sarah Robinson, a PCUSA former Young Adult Volunteer (YAV), which inspired her commitment to meaningful life-changing service. The following GCPC members serve on the board of HFA: Kern Parker, John Curry, Margaret Rada, and Kathy Meacham. Nathan McMahan supports the programming for HFA through his leadership with young adult ministry. GCPC has been an incubator for many local nonprofit organizations, including Asheville Youth Mission (AYM), Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice (WCCJ) with its Women at Risk program--now part of Homeward Bound; Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, and many other mainstays of Asheville's nonprofit world.

HFA's ecumenical ministry is reflected on the board and in the service of the volunteers: in addition to the GCPC members listed above, Emily Ball, Communications Director of Homeward Bound, is the President of the Board, and Tina Owen, Development Director of Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is newly joining the board.  Cliff Christian, of First Baptist Church and The Timothy Project, is a program supporter.  This year's HFA volunteers have service placements with the following organizations: Haywood Street Congregation, Church of the Advocate, The Timothy Project, Homeward Bound's A-Hope, the YMCA.  

How can you get involved?  Here are three ways:  a) get to know our volunteers this year--Colin Pettigrew, Emily Bentley, Corrine Roberts, and Sarah McCoy by inviting them to your home for a dinner, a potluck, or see if you can come bring a dish to a potluck at their home--which they do on an almost weekly basis;  b) suggest to nonprofits with which you are involved that they might be able to use an HFA volunteer for 2014-15; c) help support the program with your financial commitment, or with your ideas or energy for fundraising.  Contact Kathy Meacham, Nathan McMahan, Kern Parker, Margaret Rada, Kern Parker, or John Curry for more information.

Check out HFA's blog to hear directly from the volunteers: http://www.handsandfeetavl.org/blog/